The New York Yankees are gearing up to face off against the Kansas City Royals in the American League Division Series (ALDS) starting Saturday,
October 5, at Yankee Stadium This matchup marks the first postseason encounter between the two teams since 1980
*Regular Season Recap*
The Yankees had a stellar regular season, finishing with 94 wins, while the Royals secured 86 wins In their seven regular-season meetings, the Yankees
took five games, showcasing their dominance However, the Royals proved they can compete, shutting out the Yankees 5-0 in one game and pushing another matchup to 11 innings
*ALDS Pitching Matchup*
For Game 1, the Yankees will send ace Gerrit Cole to the mound, while the Royals will counter with Michael Wacha ¹ ³. In Game 2, Cole Ragans is expected to
start for the Royals against Carlos Rodón The starting pitcher for Game 3 remains undecided for both teams.
*Team Statistics*
The Yankees led the American League in OPS and wRC+, while the Royals ranked 14th and 20th, respectively ¹. Both teams boasted impressive
pitching staffs, with the Royals’ starting rotation earning a 3.55 ERA, second-best in MLB, and the
Yankees ranking 11th ¹. The Yankees’ bullpen had a 3.62 ERA, sixth-best in MLB, while the Royals’ bullpen held a 4.13 ERA, 20th in MLB ¹.
*Postseason Implications*
The Royals are looking to capitalize on their momentum after sweeping the Baltimore Orioles in the Wild Card Series ² ³. The Yankees, having received
a first-round bye, will aim to assert their strength in the ALDS ². This series has the potential to reignite a storied rivalry, with the Royals seeking to prove themselves against the top-seeded Yankees ².
